"Well, Mr. Jiro. Do you have any time?"

　After the peak of the afternoon, the number of customers who started to increase gradually was successfully sold out, and the time finally settled down. tea time is an hour away from the last bell At this hour, I'm always out of customers, but at that moment Jeanette approached me.

"I have a favor to ask of you,"
"What?"

　I was using the mold that Norma asked me to make to cut the fruit into a star shape.
　Rabbit apples ended in dismal results, but the stars and flowers seemed to be popular with them, so they decided to actively incorporate them into the menu.
　By the way, we are now making mitsumame.
　White sugar seems to be high-class and is not served in the Yodamari-tei. But if it's brown sugar, you can get it. That's where the mitsumame comes from.
　The other day, when I went to Homer, a rice farmer, I found sticky rice, so I even made white balls out of flour.
　In addition, they made agar. Amakusa hangs among the other seaweeds in the net of the sea guild that Loretta's younger brothers are refurbishing.
　This would be like being told to make mitsumame. He's a man called Tenkei.

"Oh, that's cute. It's the stars."
"Do you want to eat?"
"Well, one thing... ...hairless,"

　There is absolutely no sweetness in the 42 wards.
　That's why there are no customers in the prime of this tea time.
　It is deplorable that there is no custom of three o'clock snacks."

"Oh! That's right."

　He swallows things in his mouth in a hurry, and Jeanette takes his breath.
　When he turns to me, he stands up and talks to me with his usual smile.

"I'd like to go pick flowers for a while, so could you keep an eye on the shop?"
"Flower......Oh, the toilet?" If you don't tell me everything about it, I'll go..."
"Oh, no, no, no, no!"

　Hmm?
　Flower picking is a slang for toilet, isn't

"Well, actually, after this..."

　Jeanette was about to say, when the dining-room door opened.
　But no one is coming in.
　Only fresh air flows into the room through the open door.

　......what? It's kind of scary...

"Oh, I guess you're here already."
"Are you here?"
"I forgot to tell you this morning... Mr. Milly." Please come in."

　Jeanette called out to the door, and a little head peeped in from the side of the door.
　She's a pretty girl with little antennae on her head.

　I turned around to say hello, and as soon as I could, the little head retreated and disappeared from view again. ......what's this?

"Well, Milly is extremely shy... especially with men."

　Jeanette laughs bitterly.
　It's not like the girl version of Womaro.
　What's the matter? Girls are so charming and adorable. ...and Umaro...that's no good with him. You can't put it above the wind of magdas and make strange noises. He's already excommunicated from the Society of Adversions. ......that's a good thing, isn't it!?

"Millie, it's all right. Mr. Yashiro is a very kind person, so I'm not afraid."
`... well, well,'

　Your voice is too low!?

　Then, in a frightening move, the very word 'okkanabikkuri' came into the dining room.
　The way they walk in unison is like a doll. He approaches us with his jerky, clattering, and awkward behavior.
　plain clothes and short hair with fluffy cat hair. His hollow eyes are rather drooping, reminiscent of a red panda that somehow stands upright.

"Are you a Lesser Panda?"
"No, Mr. Millie is a Nanahoshi Tentu."
"...isn't it too subdivided?"
"What do you mean?"

　Well, I wouldn't say much if it were common sense in this city that they were so finely divided... but I'd say it'd be better if it were a larger group of ladybugs or, if anything, an insect tribe.
　If there are any Nanahoshi Tentu people, are there any Nami Tentu people, Himekamenokotentu people, and Dandara Tentu people?
　Can you tell it apart, that's it?

Milly comes up to the side of Jeanette, nervous enough to "hoosh!" and almost run away. Then he clung to Jeanette's waist and cuddled behind her.
　... you're scared of me, Metcha.

　But it's really small.
　It's smaller than Magda. It's about 120 centimeters.
　However, it does not appear to be anything like a ladybug. There's only one antenna growing on the head.

"Don't you have wings?"
"Ah.........no.........it is not."

　It's a very low voice to say that this is exactly what mosquitoes are talking about.
　Is this the kind of frequency that you can't hear when you get older?

"Well, Mr. Jiro," Well, I should have told you earlier, but it's too late..."

　Jeanette bows her head. But he looks happy.

"I'm thinking of going with Milly to pick flowers."
"Is it a companion?"
`No!'

　Jeanette's sudden loud voice made Milly shivering and jumping up lightly.
　Don't bully me, poor fellow.

"Oh, that's it. Ms. Milly is the flower arrangement guild, and she is an important person whom I have been friends with more than before."You've been very friendly with him, with his extreme shy person.
　Milly hides behind Jeanette by retracting her face every time we meet. ... I don't think you're disliked, but... you'll hurt me a little bit.

"Is the flower arrangement guild not for raising but for picking?"
"Ah…………………………."
"What?"

　Milly tugs at the hem of Jeanette and Jeanette pulls her ears close to Milly.
　Jeanette nods in agreement when something is whispered in her ear.

"It seems that they also grow flowers in the facility, but it seems that they manage the whole forest and grow flowers." The forest I'm going to go to is managed by a flower arrangement guild."
"I see. Are you managing the flowers as they are?"
"Oh.........."
"What? . . . . . . . yes. Yes... I see."

　That's too much trouble, talking to him. Can't we get a reply without always going through Genet?

"And, um... may I ask you a shop?"
"Oh, come on," There won't be any guests until the evening anyway."
"Thank you,"

　Jeanette is smiling, perhaps happy to go out.
　a flower‐picking conversation between women That's all right. You can go.

　It's not as good as Genet level, but I can cook, too. There are a lot of dishes that I invented in the first place. It won't be a problem.

"Well, I'll be there,"
"Ah......."

　Jeanette bowed, and Milly bowed to follow suit.
　It's a comfortable size to hug and sleep.

　Millimeter follows Jeanette to the exit. It has nothing on its back, and there is nothing really like the Nanahoshitentu people.
　I feel a bit plain.
　... Oh, yeah.

"Millie,"
`Whoa!?"

　At the mention of her name, Milly jumped up and gave a strange cry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　Hiding behind Jeanette's back, she gazes at me with frightened eyes. ... I wonder if you'll stop, I'll look at you like a s*x offender who's after such a young girl.

"Don't ask of Jeanette," I hope you'll keep a close eye on me so that I won't get lost."

　If you're going to the forest managed by the Flower Guild, Milly probably knows more about the forest.
　Jeanette looks solid and missing... or rather, she's missing. There's nothing missing.
　If you don't keep an eye on it, you won't know where you're going.

"Well, that's terrible, Mr. Jiro," Then I'm just like a child..."

　I suppose it's similar.
　Jeanette puffs up her cheeks disapprovingly. However, Milly's expression flashed beside Jeanette.

"...Mily, sister..."

　He seemed pleased to have been relied on.
　Well, if you're that size and shy, you'll only be treated like a child everywhere.
　Young children love being treated like sisters. That's probably where that smile comes from.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

　purring one's voice with a blush in one's cheeks
　That's how Milly smiles at me.

"Mr. Miri's voice to a man... Mr. Yashiro is amazing."

　It must be quite unusual.
　Jeanette has her eyes wide open.
　How shy are you, usually...

"Well, I'll be back,"
"Oh......I'll be back."

　Jeanette and Milly turned around in front of the door and thanked each other before leaving the dining room.
　The door closes, leaving me alone in the dining room.
　Magda and Loretta are going to cheer for the stalls.
　There are no customers

　Even though it's still under trial, it's no use making mitsumame that no one can eat here.
　So I decided to make something that I just thought of.
　Take out the thin, light iron plate you got from Norma and start processing. Hammer and a pencil-shaped iron bar -- bend the iron plate with a punch.
　Place the tip of the punch against the iron plate and hammer it away. Originally, this punch is used to mark the perforated part, but if you hit it with care not to over-strain it, you can apply unevenness processing to a flat iron plate like this. It's a technique used to make tin signs.

　Repeat the work with a rustling metallic sound.

"Well, here it is,"

　In front of me is a plump iron plate imitating a palm-sized ladybug.
　It's a little bit more puffy in a larger batch of cans. That's about the lightness.
　Colour it and make a bright ladyfish.
　The finish is reasonably satisfactory and we move on to finishing.

　take out a tear‐shaped, warped iron plate
　At Norma's mold shop, the first thing he made was a piece of iron.
　A little girl keeps her hair "snap." Easy to put on with one touch is a popular accessory.

　If you attach this one firmly to the lady's tent... ...the hair tie for the lady's tent is complete.

　Well, I don't have to appeal to them about how many people they are, but Milly didn't look like a nanahoshi tentu, so I just wanted to make it.
　Above all, I'm sure I'll have a deeper relationship with the flower guild.
　Jeanette wants to do the flowerbed... ...and there's a vase I've done... ...with this kind of attention, she'll do something for you in the future. This is an investment.

　While I was satisfied with the good performance, Estella came to Yodamari-tei.
　As soon as I open the door, I look around the shop, asking, "What about Jeanette?"

"That's a pity. I'm the only one now. If you want to eat Jeanette's home cooking, come back in the evening."However, Estella's business seems to have been less than rice, and she looks a little troubled.

"I have to have the papers handed in... well, can I give them to you later?"
"The papers?"

　Estella found herself with a roll of paper.
　It looks a bit high‐class. Is it some kind of contract?

"This is the month when Jeanette was born." I have to have my age updated."
"Updated?"
"The inhabitants submit their papers every year in the month of their birth."
"Do I have to update everything by myself? That's troublesome."
"I often write my age on shop and work papers. and the lord will prove that he is sure of his age."

　I wish it would be updated automatically like Japan.
　I didn't even want to renew my license.
　Do the inhabitants of this town go through such troublesome procedures every year?

　………………………?

"Is Jeanette's birthday this month?"
"Yes. Maybe it was around next week.
"Say that first!"

　Oh my gosh!
　I have nothing prepared.
　It wasn't the time to make a hair tie for a nanahoshi tent.
　I've got to get some presents for Jeanette...!

"...what are you in a hurry about?"
"Well, it's because I haven't prepared anything,"
"What are you going to prepare for? You can only write your own documents."
"It's not papers, it's birthday preparations." Presents, parties, etc.

　Well, there's no cake in the 42nd leg.
　What should I do? Can I make it with brown sugar?

"... does a party have anything to do with your birthday?"
"What?"

　Estella gives a sour look, saying, "I don't understand."
　...... you don't have one? Like a birthday party.

"In my country, we all celebrate the day that a person was born...?"
"Why? Of course, all living people were born on some days. Do we need to celebrate it with special attention?"

　It's a real tone.
　It seems that he really doesn't understand.

　There is no custom of celebrating birthdays in this city.

"Don't you eat cake or something?"
"What about cake? If you eat something that expensive like your birthday, you'll go bankrupt."
"Is it so expensive?"
"It's expensive. First of all, sugar is a luxury."

　Well, that's for sure. Black sugar is available at some price, but it must still be expensive.
　It is a town devoid of sweetness.

"What else are you celebrating instead of celebrating your birthday?"
"Marriage and childbirth are celebrated." Also, we may celebrate the first year of employment. In many industries, wages go up in the first year."

　In other words, they celebrate when their lives improve, with more families and wages.
　That may be the case if you say it makes sense.
　But it's certainly tasteless.


　......this smells like money.


"Yasilo... Your eyes are becoming like a bad guy."
"You'd better look at it and remember it. These are the eyes of the money-lost."
"Can't you think of anything but money?"
"Are you telling me to die?"
"...you're going to die if you don't think about money, are you?"

　If life is not worth living, isn't it as good as dead?

"Golden money and... poor fellow, you know,"

　Estella sighed dumbfoundedly, but the movement suddenly stopped.
　The gaze was directed at the hairpin of the ladybug on the table.

"Oh.........you're cute!"

　Estella snaps at the table and gazes at the hair tie of the ladybug. have bright eyes

"Oh, this! Did Jiro make it?"
"Oh, I'm going to give it to someone."
"I want you to give it to me! How much is it? How much do you have to give it to you?"
"Golden money and poor fellow, you're..."

　That won't do. It's a pity.

"No... I don't know who it is, but I can't believe I've got such a cute thing all to myself."

　I don't hear much about the culture of sharing hair ties. Don't you think that even close sisters have your own hair tie?

"Do you want that much?"
"I want it! Well, it doesn't have to be a ladybug..."
"What shape do you want, for example?"
"Well... shiitake mushrooms,"
"Well... what's that hobby?"
"Oh, that's good! It's good and the shape is pretty, isn't it, shiitake mushroom?"

　I see... shiitake mushrooms...
　Is Estella a bad idea?

"Well, I can make a shiitake hair tie for you."
"Really!""How about a small shiitake mushroom next to a big shiitake mushroom?"
"Wow! What's cute just imagining it! It's like, 'You're the big shiitake mushroom, I'm the little one!'"
"No... a couple who can be likened to shiitake mushrooms is very subtle, but... well, if you're OK with it, that's fine."
"Oh, this is... ...too much fun!"

　Well, it's something you can easily make, so it's good to make it.
　However, it is.

"I want to eat cake."
"What about .........?"
"Cake".
"...to buy you something?"
"Yes,"
"……………………Cake?"

　I used to say just now that it was a luxury item.
　I guess it's a level of food that can't be called a treat.

　But I want to know what level of cake this world has.
　That will greatly change my behavior in the future.

"………………………Do you mean Imagawa-yaki?"
"It's a cake. It's a cake for my birthday."
"So why is it cake like a birthday?"
"It's a custom in my country. Anyway, I want to try the cake of this town."
".........but..."

　I'm very reluctant.
　Then, would you like me to make you a hair tie for Erringi and Beechshimeji besides shiitake mushrooms?

"Go eat with me, please."
"Oh!? ...together?"
"Oh, I'd rather go eat than have them buy me."

　...I'd like to keep it a secret from Jeanette just in case.
　If you give up cake, you might be a little shocked. I don't want you to feel so disappointed on your birthday.

"... with two of you?"
"Well, if it's expensive, it's better."
"...when are you going?"
"How about tomorrow or something? Is it convenient for you?"
"I don't care! I'm so fine! I have work to do, but I'll throw everything away!"
"No... do your job." The sewage works in the Forty-Ward and the town gate in the Forty-Ward are now in operation."
"Yes! It's so hard! So I think I can reward myself!"

　I don't know, but the Estella burst into flames.
　I don't know where it will light up.

"Well, tomorrow! Let's go eat cake! We'll be out until the 40th leg. Are you okay?"
"I wonder if I'll have to get that far... ...I can't help it. Well, let's meet at the central square."
"Yes!"

　Estella nods with an angelic smile.
　I wonder if he wants to eat cake, too.

"... well, by the way..."

　Estella begins to hesitate with her hands folded behind her.
　He glances at me with a penetrating glance.

"Which do you like better, skirt or pants?"
"Do you mean to wear a skirt or not?"
"No! Not full pants, but pants!"
"Oh, that's... that's hard to understand."
"And you're the only one who thinks so..."
"I don't think it matters either way, but... well, it's a skirt. if I have to say,"
"All right!"

　His expression shone and he walked swiftly to the door.
　Then turn around in front of the door.

"Well, tomorrow. Let's get together at the same time as the morning bell!"
"Quick!"
"Don't be late!"

　Stressing her last words, Estella left.

　Oh, well... we get together at eight in the morning.
　Well, that's how much I have to go to Forty Ward.
　It can't be helped. Preliminary research is a very important factor.



　Thus my new plan began to move slowly without anyone knowing it.